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Effects of schema group therapy in older outpatients: a proof of concept study‡

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2014

A. C. Videler ,
G. Rossi ,
M. Schoevaars ,
C. M. van der Feltz-Cornelis  and
S. P. J. van Alphen
A. C. Videler*
Affiliation:
Breburg Hospital, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Tilburg, the Netherlands Department of Clinical & Life Span Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium Tilburg University, Tranzo Department, Tilburg, the Netherlands
G. Rossi
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical & Life Span Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
M. Schoevaars
Affiliation:
Psychology Practice Schoevaars, Capelle aan den IJssel, the Netherlands
C. M. van der Feltz-Cornelis
Affiliation:
Tilburg University, Tranzo Department, Tilburg, the Netherlands Clinical Centre for Body, Mind and Health, GGz Breburg, Tilburg, the Netherlands Trimbos Institute, Board, Utrecht, the Netherlands
S. P. J. van Alphen
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical & Life Span Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium Mondriaan Hospital, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Heerlen-Maastricht, the Netherlands
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Arjan Videler, Lange akker 18, 5081 MS, Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands. Phone: +31630588253; Fax: +314683438. Email: a.videler@ggzbreburg.nl.
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Abstract

Background:

Short-term group schema cognitive behavior therapy (SCBT-g) showed improvements in overall symptomatology, early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and schema modes, both in adults and adolescents with personality disorder (PD) features and long-standing mood disorders. However, no research has yet been carried out on the effect in older adults. Therefore, in a proof of concept study, we explored the effect of SCBT-g in older outpatients with PD features and longstanding mood disorders.

Method:

Thirty-one older outpatients, aged 60–78 years with PD features and/or longstanding mood disorders were included in a proof of concept study with pre-mid-post design. Primary outcome was psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory) and intermediate outcomes were EMS (Young Schema Questionnaire) and schema modes (Schema Mode Inventory), assessed at baseline, mid-treatment and end-of-treatment. Paired samples t-tests were conducted, and Cohen's d effect sizes reported for pre mid- and post-treatment. As proof of concept analysis, hierarchical regression analyses with residual change scores were used to analyse whether early process changes in EMS (intermediate outcomes) predicted later outcome changes in symptoms.

Results:

SCBT-g led to significant improvement in all three measures of psychological symptoms, EMS and modes with medium effect sizes. Pre-treatment to mid-treatment changes in schema severity predicted symptom improvement from mid- to end-of-treatment.

Conclusion:

This proof of concept study shows that SCBT-g has potential to change EMS and to show significant effect at symptom level in older outpatients with PD features. A control condition in a randomized controlled trial is a necessary step for further research.

Keywords

schema therapygroup therapyolder adultsproof of concept study
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 26 , Issue 10 , October 2014 , pp. 1709 - 1717
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014 

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Footnotes

‡

The original version of this article was published with an author name spelt incorrectly. A notice detailing this has been published and the error rectified in the online and print PDF and HTML copies.

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